Holliston town clerk candidates emphasize technology

Those running to replace retiring Town Clerk Jackie Dellicker all say the job should remain an elected position.

Kendall Hatch/Daily News staff

Those running to replace retiring Town Clerk Jackie Dellicker all say the job should remain an elected position.

The five candidates - Elizabeth Greendale, Michelle Johnson, William McColl, Robert Wolfe and Pamela Zicko - told voters Monday night why they're best qualified to take over for Dellicker, who is stepping down next month after 11 years.

The candidates forum, which also featured candidates for the two available selectman seats, was the first of two broadcasts by Sam Tyler and Barbara Gardner, hosts of Holliston Cable Access Television's "Talk of the Town" program.

The clerk candidates all agreed on several issues, including keeping the clerk job an elected position. They said political impartiality is vital to the job.

They also all said they want the town clerk office to be open more often, for residents who can't get there during normal business hours. They differed slightly, though, on how to do that.

Zicko and Greendale supported expanding office hours into the evening certain nights. The other candidates agreed but also wanted to provide some services online for residents' convenience.

All candidates said they want technology to be a bigger part of clerk duties. Greendale, who was assistant town clerk in Holliston from 1995 to 1999, said she wants to consult with the town's technology director and state laws to see what can be done.

Johnson, who is office administrator at First Baptist Church and is involved in the Parent-Teacher Student Association, said she wants to use email, RSS feeds and social networking to keep the public informed.

McColl, a selectman and former Finance Committee member, said he has extensive technological experience and wants to build a database for residents to use where they can also receive notices about meetings, elections or other topics.

Wolfe, a driving instructor who has worked at Raytheon and Holmes Corp., said he wants to review current practices and increase the office's "online functionality."

Zicko, a Finance Committee member and co-owner of the Holliston Grille, said she wants to work closely with the technology department to figure out new techniques.

The candidates all acknowledged that the job will have a learning curve. Johnson said maintaining a strong base in the community could pose a challenge at first, while Wolfe said coordinating a presidential election could be difficult.

McColl said it will take time to accrue the knowledge needed to solve problems for residents or to point them in the right direction when they come to the office, which he called "virtual front door" of Town Hall.

Zicko said she thinks it could be cumbersome to ensure that all town boards are adhering to Open Meeting and ethics laws.

(Kendall Hatch can be reached at 508-626-4429 or khatch@wickedlocal.com.)

Market Place

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA ~ 33 New York Ave., Framingham, MA 01701 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service